Map-folding machine



Dec. l. l925- E. W. FIALA MAP FOLDING MACHINE Dec. l, 1925l E. W. FIALAMAP FOLDING 'MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 30, 1925 Patented Dec.1, 1925.

UNITED 'STATES r-A'TEnr vrisica.

fzeAnL W. MALA, or Enna Barros, Iowa.

MAP-FOLDING iv'rAcHinr..

Application ined January so, 1925. serial N'o. 5,847.

To all whom t may concer/a.'

Be it known that I, EARL WV. FMLA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Black Hawk Vand State ofIowa, have invented certain y new and useful Improveinents inh/iap-Il'old-y ing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for foldingand cuttingsheet material, and is more particularly adapted to one for use inconnection with the folding and cutting of maps. y

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide amap folding and cutting machine of the above mentioned character, whichis of such construction as to effectively fold and cut maps in a mannerthat will save considerable time and labor. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a map folding andcutting machine of` the above mentioned character, which will produce alfolded and cut map of such size as to enable the same to be carried inthe pocket lof va person without occupying any considerable amount .ofspace.

A further object is to provide amap folding and cutting means of theabove mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable, and further wellv adapted for the purposes for whichit isd'esigned.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparentduring the following description.

In the accompanying` drawing, forming a part of this specification, andIin which like numerals designate like parts throughout the same: l y

Figure 1 is atop plan view of .the map folding and cutting machine,embodying my invention. .l Y ,y

Figure 2is a side elevation thereof. I

Figure?) a fragmentary view, showing the bottom die in plan, and y lFigure 4; is a sectional view, taken approxi mately on the line ld ofFigure 3.

In` the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred einbodiment of I'nyinvention, the` numeral 1 1designatesgenerallyuthe frame, `the `same being substantially ofrectangulardesign.

A bed Q is arranged above the frame 1, as

clearly illustrlated in Figure table,

is provided with a .die 4e, andthe such as is shown at 3, is associatedwith the forward 'end of the frame, and is disposed adjacent one of theside edges thereof. The purpose of the table will hereinafter be moreful-ly described.

Complementary die members 1 and 5 are arranged above the bed 2 at theforward end of' theframe. The die t is stationary and y pair of`substantially V-shaped grooves 6 and 7 respectively, the same extendinglongitudinally of the die, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and t.The die 5 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extendingVsubstantially 'il-shaped cutting knives 8 and 9 respectively, the samebeingl` adapted for'coop'eration with the V- shaped grooves 6 and 7provided in the stationary die The die5 is adapted for vertical slidablemovement with respect to the stationary die, `and to this end thevertically extending gulides, shown at 10, are provided, each `guidehaving formed on the inner face thereof, a substantially dove tailedgroove for receiving the dove tailed tongue 11, carried by each of thecorners ofthe movable die 5; This construction lis more vclearlyillustratedy in Figure 1. Nor mally theV die 5 is spaced from thestationary operation of the die will be hereinafter more fullyldescribed.

Cooperating feed rollers, such as are shown at 12 and 13respectivelyvextend longitudinally of the forward portion of the frame,adjacent the forward edge of the table 3, in the manner shown moreclearly in Figure` the purpose of the' rollers being to provide a meanswhereby the maps which are placed on the table 3 may be fe'dto thecooperating dics. The rollers are adapted to be rotated in oppositeVdirections through the medium of a'pulley 14, which is associated withthe outer end of one of the shafts of the feed rollers, preferably theupper one,the pulley 1 1 being' in alignment with the pulley lcsupportedon the forward end of the longitudinally extendingpdrive shaft 16, whichis jlournaled in suitable .bearings 17 on the front side of the frame. Abelt 18 extends -over the aligning pulleys 14 and 15 respectively. Asuitable electric motor, des-p` ignated generally Y`.by ,the ynumeral 19provides a meansv for actuating the drive shaft 16. v

Jeurnaled at its respective ends in the up- `per, 'ends ofvertcal'standards 20, ar

ranged adjacent the ends of the frame 1 is a secondary drive shaft 21. Apulley 22 is mounted on the outer end of the secondary drive shaft 21,and is in alignment with the pulley 23 mounted on the drive shaft 16,and over the pulleys is disposed a belt 24, whereby the secondary driveshaft will be driven by the main drive shaft 16. An eccentric 25 issecured on the secondary drive shaft 21, and a. connection 26 isprovided between the eccentric 25 and the top of the movable die 5,whereby the die will be adapted for vertical reciprocatory movementbetween the guides 10 when the secondary shaft 2l is rotated, thuspermitting the movable die 5 to cooperate with the stationary die 4, incutting and creasing` the map which is transferred from the table 8 bythe feed rollers 12 and 13, onto the stationary die 4. lt is obviousthat when the sharpened edges of the V-shaped cutting knives 8 and 9carried by the die 5 are disposed within the V- shaped grooves 6 and 7,the map will be cut to a predetermined size and simultaneously creased.

An ejector 27 is adapted for slidable movement on the intermediateportion of the stationary die 4, for the purpose of ejecting the mapfrom the stationary die, after the same has been cut and initiallycreased.

- The operating means for the slidable ejector 27 comprises a pin 28which is secured at its upper end to the ejector and is adapted forslidable movement within the longitudinally extending slot 29 providedin the central portion of the stationary die 4. rlhe lower end of thepin 28 extends below the bottom of the stationary die, and a lever 30,which is pivotally supported, adjacent its rear end, as illustrated at31, below the table 3 is connected at its forward end to the lower endof the pin 28, as clearly illustrated in the drawings. The rear end ofthe lever 30 is pivotally connected to the forward end of thelongitudinally extending rod 32, and the free end of the rod extendsoutwardly from the side of the table for a suitable distance. The rod 32is adapted for forward slidable movement by means of the cam 83, whichengages thc free end of the rod 82. The cam is supported on the rear endof a transversely extending shaft 34, which is journaled in suitablebearings below the said bed' 2, and a pulley 35 is carried by theforward end of the shaft 84, the same cooperating with a pulley 36mounted on the drive shaft 16, through the medium of the belt Normallythe ejector 27 is disposed adjacent the forward end of the stationarydie 4, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3. The same is adapted tomove across the upper face of the intermediate portion of the stationarydie 4, after the map has been cut and initially creased, and the ejectorwill engage the map and move the same rearwardly ofi' of the stationarydie, so that the map will be delivered to the funnel shaped guides 38and 89. respectively, which are disposed at an ineline above the bed 2,the upper ends of the funnel shaped guides being disposed in cooperativerelation with the rear end of the stationary die adjacent the uppersurface thereof, as is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

A pair of secondary creasing rollers 4() and 41 respectively, extendtransversely across the bed 2 adjacent the lower ends of the funnelshaped guides 38 and 39. The ends of the shafts associated with the crasing rollers are journaled in suitable bearings 42 extending upwardlyfrom the sides of the frame 1 and the creasing rollers are operated bymeans of the belt 43 and the pulley 44 mounted on the drive shaft 16.

Adapted to receive the map after the same has passed through thecreasing rollers 49 and 41 respectively, are the cooperating rotaryfolding members 45 and 46 respective ly. Each of the foldinor members isstar shaped in cross section, and the same extend transversely acrossthe rear end of the bed 2, the star shaped member 45 being disposedabove the bed, while the complementary star member 46 is disposed belowthe bed. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2 The shafts whichcarry the star shaped folding members are journaled at their respectiveends in suitable bearings 47, which extend upwardly from the sides ofthe frame. and the folding members are adapted to be rotated through themedium of a belt 46 and the pulley wheel 49 mounted on the main driveshaft 16.

After the map has passed through. the star shaped folding members, thefolding open ation has been completed, and the map is folded in such amanner as to enable the same to bereadily inserted in the pocket of aperson. The map is so folded as to enable the same to be read like abook, when in use, and furthermore a compact package is provided, whichwill not occupy any considerable amount of space.

The purpose of disposing the creasing rolle ers and the folding rollersat substantially right angles to the cutting and initially7 creasingdies is to obtain an alternate fold of the map.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that a machine hasbeen provided which will ellicicntly fold and cut maps in such a manneras to save considerable time and labor, and furthermore will be positivein its operation. Heretofore it has been necessary to employ a number ofpersons, in order to carry out the necessary steps in cutting andfolding maps or other sheet material. The `provision of a machine of theabove mentioned character will obvian the necessity of having to employa number of lill) persons, it being only necessary to employ a singleperson for operating the present machine.

lVhile l have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is tobe understood that various changes in the size, shape, and arrangementof parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

l. A machine of the class described coniprising a frame, a stationarydie supported at the forward end thereof, a complementary movable diecooperating with the stationary die for creasing and folding sheetmaterial, means for feeding the sheet material to said dies, creasing`rollers supported on said frame in cooperative relation with respect tosaid dies, folding means supported on the rear ends of the frame andcooperating with said creasing rollers. and means associated with thestationary die for ejecting the sheet of material therefrom, after themovable die has been moved outof engagement with the stationary die,whereby the material is delivered to said creasing rollers.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a stationary diesupported at the forward end thereof, a complementary movable diecooperating with the stationary die for creasing and folding sheetmaterial, means for feeding the sheet material to said dies, creasingrollers supported on said frame in cooperative relation with respect tosaid dies, folding means supportcd on the rear ends of the frame andcooperating with said creasing` rollers, means associated with thestationary die for ejecting the sheet of material therefrom, after themovable die has been moved out of engagement with the stationary die,whereby the material is delivered to said creasing rollers, said lastmentioned means comprising an ejector normally disposed adjacent theforward end of the stationary die, and adapted for slidable movementover the upper surface of the stationary die and engagingl the sheet ofmaterial thereon.

23. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, astationary diesupported at the forward end thereof, a complementary movable diecooperating with the stationary die for creasing and folding sheetn'iaterial, means for feeding the sheet material to said dies, creasingrollers supported on said frame 4in cooperative relation with respect tosaid dies, folding means supported on the rear ends of the frame andcooperating with said creasing rollers, means associated with thestationary die for ejecting the sheet of material tl'ierefrom, after themovable die has been moved out of engagement with the stationary die,whereby the material is delivered to said creasing rollers, said lastmentioned means comprising an ejector normally disposed adjacent theforward end of the stationary die and adapted for slidable movement overthe upper surface of the stationary die and engaging the sheet ofmaterial thereon, and means for actuating the above mentioned `movableelements.

d'. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a stationarydie having a pair of substantially V-shaped grooves formed therein, acon'iplementary die adapted for reciprocatory movement with respect tothe stationary die, substantially V-shaped cutting members formed on thebottom of the movable die and adapted for cooperation with the il-shapedgrooves in the stationary die, means for feeding sheet material to saiddies, folding means arranged in cooperative relation with respect tosaid dies, and means for discharging the sheet material from the diesand feeding the same to said folding means. i

A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a stationary diesupported thereon, a complementary movable die cooperating with thestationary die for creasing and folding sheet material, means forfeeding sheet material to said dies, creasing rollers supported on theframe in cooperative relation with respect to said dies, folding meanscooperating with said creasing rollers, and means for discharging sheetmaterial from said dies and feeding the same to said creasing rollers.

6, A machine of the class described comprising a frame, a stationary diemounted thereon and having a pair of substantially V -shaped groovesformed therein, a complementary die adapted 'for reciprocatory movementwith respect to the stationary die, substantially V-shaped cuttingmembers formed on the bottom of the movable die and cooperating with theV-shaped grooves in the stationary die for creasing and cutting sheetmaterial, means for feeding sheet material to said dies, creasingrollers disposed at right angles to said dies and arranged incooperative relation therewith, sheet folding means on the framearranged in cooperative relation with respect to the creasing rollers,guide means for the sheet material disposed between the die and thecreasing rollers, and means associated with said die for ejecting sheetmaterial therefrom after the same has been initially creased and cut,wherebythe sheet material is fed to said creasing rollers over saidguide means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EARL W. rialza,

